Evening Star Newspaper, April 8, 1929, Page 8

{THE EVENING STAR o Yith Sunfay Merning Ediien. WASHINGTON, D, C. MONDAY..........April 8, 1020 THEODORF W. NOYES. ...Editor The Evening Star Ne: 11t 8e."ahd Pensaoly . and Pennsslv | _New York Ofce: 110 hicago Office ropean Office: Take. Michiean Bulaw chigan Bullding. <34 Regent 8., Londom Rate by Carrier Within the City. e Evening St ;45 per month e Evenin, 60c per month 85¢ per month X T Cf Collection made f each month. Orders may be sent in by mail or telephone Main 5000 * Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. mo., 50¢ i 1 mo., 40¢c Lawful Law Enforcement. Although President Hoover had al- ready made it amply apparent that dramatics and theatricals are to be conspicuous by their abserice in the new administration’s law-enforcement plans, it iis gratifying to have the Nation's chief law officer reaffirm that policy :n categorical terms. In his striking ad- dress in The Evening Star-Columbia Broadcasting System's National Radio Forum Saturday evening, Attorney Gen- eral Mitchell outlined the 'program broadly and briefly, but in arresting terms. “Nothing has a greater tendency to beget lawlessness,” Mr. Mitchell said, “than lawless methods of law enforce- ment.” The chief.of the Department of Justice did not particularize, but un- doubtedly he had principally in mind some of the notorious excesses to which officers of the law, Federal, State, coun- ty and municipal, have from time to time resorted in the enforcement of prohibition. At the present moment national and international attention is riveted upon an affair on the high seas Tesultant from zeal on the part of our Coast Guard patrol. In an Illinois county a home was re- cently invaded and death done to an nnocent person—a wife and mother— by prohibition sleuths hacking their way to desired proofs of a liquor law violation of a not very hetnous character. The Assistant Secretary of the Treas- ury in charge of enforcement reports a casualty list, in a year of prohibition law, that would do credit to a battle in the Mexican revolution. Some of the dead and wounded, law officers and criminals alike, in all probability, met their doom because of “lawless meth- ods” invoked by men who succumbed to the theory that “anything goes” in the hunt for booze felons. Attorney Genceral Mitchell now tells us that, far from promoting respect for law, such tactics “beget lawlessness.” Mr. Mitchell does not fail to echo President Hoover's plea for a wider popular co-operation in law observance. ‘Therein lies much, if not all, of the milk in the coconut. “The great diffi- culty inlaw enforcement,” the Attorney General explains, “is with those crimes where gain comes to the lawbreaker by the voluntary act of those who buy from him illicit goods.” It is to be hoped that Mr. Mitchell has substantial ground -for his- belief that there is “distinct. improvement in this respect.” In the progressive devel- opment of systematic law observance by citizens in position to set notable ex- amples lies the most substantial pros- pect of outlawing bootlegging and boot- leggers. R The I'm Alone concluded its career by being as far from silent solitude as possible. N Comment on the Canadian Wreck. | In a recent issue of The Star editorial | comment was made upon a tragically fatal accident on a line of the Cana- dian National Railways, in which the wreck was blamed upon blundering train dispatching and operation, upon the existence of a single-track line and upon the inflammable character of the coaches. The attention of The Star has been called to the fact that the car which, after derailment, was ignited, with the death of many persons, was not, as stated, “a flimsy wooden one,” but was of steel underframe and super- devices that will'lessen the chances of human error leading to tragedy. A single-track line, whatever may be the percentage of its mileage to rail- road mileage in general, is & place of extreme danger, so long as the “fallibil- ity of the human mind” may effect a catastrophe. A rall line, not equipped with & cut-off or automatic stop device which will reduce ‘the chances of' the human error to a minimum remains a line of possible peril to all patrons. Cars may be made of steel, heating and cooking devices may be made as se- cure as engineering invention permits, dispatching orders may }n prepared with the utmost care, tracks may be kept in, the highest condition of de- pendability, every feature of equipment may be of the best. And all wiil be rendered futile when the human error ocours. The American railways are un- der orders, which they are only slowly obeying, to equip their lines with de- vices that reduce the “fallibility of the human mind” ‘factor to the lowest pos- sible, point of potential evil. ————————————— Thg Infernal Machine Delusion. Just. why anybody wants to effect the physical ~ destruction of Franklin Roosevelt, Governor of New. York, can- not be conceived. Yet such a murderous disposition evidently prevails some- where, as evidenced by the discovery of a deadly bomb in the mails, ad- dressed to him at Albany and plainly designed to effect his death in case of its handling by him personally. By good fortune the package was mislaid in the handling in one of the New York branch post offices. A porter acci- dentally kicked it as he was sweeping the floor and noticed a sputtering of flame coming from it. Later it was dis- covered that the box contained enough explosive material to have killed any person opening it, and perhaps all others in the same room. It had been ingeniously contrived, evidently made by a person familiar with explosives and capable of making an effective mechanism. A “return address” on the parcel proved to be fictitious. A disordered mind is usually the in- spiration of such attempts to take the lives of public men. Gov. Roosevelt is personally one of the kindest and most lovable of men. * He is of the type to have no enemy. He is in public office as a result of a remarkable demonstration of personal popularity, given at the polls in November. During the past few weeks he has been conducting a vigor- ous campaign for legislation in New York State making for what he con- ceives to be the public benefit. But even in this contest, which is purely political in character, there has been no element of personal hostility. The “infernal machine” so rarely reaches its mark that it would seem.to be one of the most futile of means of vengeance. In many cases the device is crude and ineffective and would fail of its purpose even if it were to be hatfdled by the person addressed. In other cases suspicion ‘as to its nature causes the taking of phecautions that nullify the evil properties of the bomb. Only in the very rarest of instances does the deadly contrivance get to the intended vietim. A reasoning person would know that in the case of a man in Gov. Roose- velt's position a miscellaneous postai package would not be opened by him, would not indeed be opened in his pres- | ence. A public official is constantly.re- ceiving matters by mail, and his clerks attend to their disposition. In this in- stance, if the package had gone to Al- bany ‘and to the executive offices it would have been opened by one of the’| governor’s subordinates, who -would: probably have lost his life. Only.a feeble-minded person, victim of some delusion of injury, would conceive the | possibility of the governor himself opening a stray box coming through the malls. Y The motive behind the making and mailing of this box was murder. If found the perpetrator, whether sane or insane, should be treated as one too dangerous to be allowed to live. ————— It is the frank opinion of Cole Blease that a well managed constituency does not care what a man’s opinions may be 50 long as he has the right line of talk. — e Cherry trees in Potomac Park attract thousands of visitors to ‘Washington, D. C. Beauty is an asset whose influ- ence is not obtrusive, yet always irre- sistible, —————— ‘War in Mexico continues' to absorb ® vast amount of energy, which would in hitting and fielding, the outfleld should occasion no worry. Jack Hayes, at second base, has returned from Min- neapolis a much improved player, and with the peerless Bluege to work with him should plug all holes in that sector of the diamond. Myer is s certainty at third bese and the graceful Joe Judge at first base. The catching department is again headed by that eminent iawyer from St. Louis, “Muddy” 'Ruel, and is ably seconded by Tate and Spencer. With Hadley, Braxton, Jones and Mar- berry as the big four, the pitching staff should make up in quality what it lacks in numbers.- Brown, Burke, Liska, Campbell or Hopkins may show enough to join this select quartet of starting hurlers, thus giving the team a capable set of sharpshooters from the mound. ————t—t Ex-President Coolidge says eight years of the presidency puts a man in danger of having & “swelled head.” If all poli- ticians were immune until this- su- preme experience, enlargement of the cranjum would be a less common and chronic malady. — 1t is the erudite opinion of Senator Norris that the question of social prec- edence has its value. It is at least some- thing to talk about in the spirit of relaxation that makes social foregath- ering worth while. e —o— Journalism appeals to ex-President Coolidge. He is, however, not youthful enough to jump into a raincoat at 1 a.m. in response to a telephone message from the city editor who has learned of a mystery clue. —_— et Nations are jealous of polar explora- tions, on the theory that there may be actual lands found somewhere, if the snow shovels can dig deep enough. —— et Reduction of tax on earned incomes will create embarrassment if it brings on a business-doctor inquiry as to what incomes are really earned. ——r——— Large - figures employed in interna- tional calculation lead the plain arith- métician to inquire what the next set of figures is after the billions. B ] One of the things that might benefit Mexico would be a serlous experiment for. a while with a genuine pacifist movement. —————————— A robot to substitute for the President in handshaking ceremonials would af- ford some much-needed relief. e Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest, but not in a motor-crowded high- way. —————————— SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Robot Bird. ‘The airplane travels, fair to see, Upon a_silver wing, And what & great song there would be If, somehow, it could sing! Like poultry, if it were inclined Our watchful care to beg, ©Oh, what an omelet we'd find ‘When e’er it lald an egg! About the robot man so strange ‘With wonder we have heard. Perhaps, in time, we can arrange . To have the robot bird. ' * Reciprocity. “Of course, in any crisis, you would do your‘utmost to save your country?” “Without hesitation,” answered Sen- ator Sorghum.. “It would be only reci- pracity.. . Through one election . after another my country has saved me.” Jud Tunkins says it's & big country and its admiring populace ought to realize that the President has a tre- mendous lot to attend to besides shak- ing hands. Gloom at the Feast. And should I go with pride immense To dine, where all seems bright and g2y, . Questions of social precedence Would take my appetite away. Doubting the Majority. majority?” “Sometimes,” said Mr. Chuggins, “but not when my wife and two daughters combine to drive this old flivver from the back seat.” “To ask one favor,” said Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown,’' “is a compliment. To ask*many is a sign of indolent de- pendence.” > be valuable if applied to industry. o structure, with seats of wood and leather, being of the regular type of car used for colonist business. There were no wooden cars in either of the two trains which collided. It is also noted that The Star erred in the statement that the car was set afire by a ‘stove that furnished heat. The fact is that the car was steam heated, and that the fire arose from a stove in the kitchen Base Ball Weather. If the blazing hot weather of the past few days did nothing else, it has made thousands of - baseballites think " long- ingly of the season soon to start, and this longing is intensified because - of the fine record -of exhibition -games complled by the Nationals. This is pre- eminently base ball weather, and the cool seats in the now bare Grifith compartment, provided for the con venience of the colonist passengers. ‘This stove is of the same type as those in use in dining cars. ‘Thus it would appear that The Star's editorial comment upon this lamentable affair was unfortunately incorrect in the reference to the inflammability of the car and #he origin of the flames which caused its destruction, with a terrible loss of life. It is, however, in order to note that there is no justifica- tion for the criticism which has been expressed that the comment was un- warranted in its suggestion“of faulty operation. “It does not imply lack of efficiency in railroading,” writes the corrector of The Star's error regarding the type of cars, referring to the cause of the collision, “but is merely an in- stance of the fallibility of the human mind.” ‘This “human error” element has caused a shocking total of deaths on American rallroads, both in the United States and in Canada. To the victim of/ & wreck it matters not in the least ‘whether the somebody who blundered is @ dispatcher, an engineer, a conductor or a fligman in handling particular trains, or a higher executive determin- ing general operating policies, or a board of directors determining the character of equipment, - The blunder occurs, the wreck results, the passengers are slain and mangled. * It is ali-one' to the suf- Stadium beckon invitingly to those who still have eight days to wait before the curtain is rung up on the 1929 pennant scramble. During the week that remains ‘Washington’s warriors will be working Unfinished Business. The Coast Guard, meaning conscience to arouse, < Sent several shells across the rum boat's bows. g The cap'n said, “Lay, too, upon the . spot. We may as well admit. we're now half shot!” “Tain’ no use kickin’,” sald Uncle Eben. “De mule don't help hisself any by bein’ the finest kicker dat is.” But the Air Is Free. Prom the Dayton Daily Ne their way north, and the rabid fans|Teads. who cannot control their impatience until & week from tomorrow, when the Fhiladelphia team is battled in the first game of the season, will have a chance to glimpse their favorites next Thurs- day and Friday, when the New York Giants are booked for two appearances against the Griffmen at the local ball orchard, - This exhibition series with the Glants, by the way, which begins this after- ton may expect from its elub in 1929. ‘Walter Johnson, the beloved manager, course, the general never knows when |of the nm-rywmoflahw¢ it will be'. men, Can’t Please Everybody. From the Saginaw ‘Daily News, . A Weather Bureau man Down East was chloroformed.the other day. Gross- unfair, for the meteorologists do their best. Better Late Than Never. “Do you believe in the rule of the | p. would ‘The good cause of kindness to animals is furthered by every para- gqph pf the following sort which gets L0 print anywhere in the world: “A rare white seal was recently caught by three fishermen at Eyne-4 mouth,. England. It was. placed in a tank, where it attracted much atten- tion, and when any one went near it would cry liké a baby. The' tender: hearted captors returned. it to the sea, ‘These three unknown' fishermen of Eynemouth deserve a place in the an- | rac: nals of the great movement which aims to apply the Golden Rule to the deal- ings of mankind with his four-legged brothers, However far away the goal may be, and however much the road is cluttered with ecruelty, perfect kindness to ani- mals will never be secured except through the medium’ of education. And such education must be a train- ing of the emotions as well as of the mind, for nothing is more cruel than intellectuality, when it is devold of emotions. The theoretical aspects of kindness, in their appli¢ation to the brute crea- tion, are perfectly well understood by most people; where the difficulty comes is in their practical application. * K K % ‘Who knows but that the crusade in behalf of kindness to animals may some day result in universal peace, since man is the greatest animal of all? If he cannot be gentel toward his brethren of field and forest, there is little chance that he will ever learn how to be truly gentle to his kind. It may be that the slaughter of man by man, as carried on in great wars, is a mere reflex of his conduct toward the animals, slain by their miilions every year to clothe and feed him. It is precisely at this point that any one who discusses this subject begins to get into hot water, as the expression has it. Clothing is necessary, food is necessary, perhaps furs for women's neckpieces are necessary. Great industries are based solidly on the slaying of animal life, so that any one who ventures to protest finds him- self fighting against great interests which serve him. ‘What one does not know ordinarily does not hurt him. Thus hundreds of thousands of kindly disposed persons find themselves eating bacon without & qualm who would be terribly upset had they seen the pig-sticker at work with his sharp, razorlike knife. * k% % The mosp that may be done, it seems to us, in prosecuting the work for kind- ness to animals is to preach the doc- trine in print and by word of mouth, to set personal examples and to take ad- vantage of such laws and regulations as the humanity of man has evolved. ‘The great danger which the indi- vidual or the organization runs, it seems to us, is to overstep the mark in the way of sentimentality. It cannot be gainsaid that many persons are utterly indifferent to this cause. Life with them is a struggle, and they have no time or sympathy to waste on the brute creation. ‘The avoidance of sentimentality, it would seem, is absolutely necessary if those who believe in kindness to ani- mals as a theory and a practice are to make any impression whatever upon these others. It the goal is ever to be reached, these must be impressed to the point where they become participators in the humane work. They cannot be over- looked or left out. The kindly fisher- men of Eynemouth, granting them full credit for their deed, without investiga- WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE. Calvin Coolidge’s statement, in his latest magazine article, that he was “told” he “should have been nominated” at Kansas City, had he not directed the leaders of several State delegations not to vote for him, is not likely to go un- challenged. Now that something else can be “told,” the fact may be chron- icled at this late day that had Coolidge permitted his name to go before the convention he would. have provoked a knock-down and dragout reminiscent of the Taft-Roosevelt fisticuffs at Chi- cago in 1912. The Hoover pepple at Kansas City were in no mood for any eleventh-hour I-choose-after-all-to-run business from the Coolidge camp. Hoo- ver was in the fleld with close to a clear majority of the convention. Hundreds of his delegates were pledged and in- structed for him. No sudden White House impulse would have deflected them from the purpose with which they came to Kansas City. It is extremely doubtful that they could have secured a “release” from Hoover. The “double- crossing” charge would have been leveled at Coolidge with a vengeance. He might have forced his renomination, as Taft did, but another revolt within the G. O. 3 almost certainly have ensued and brought a Smith victory in 1928 strongly within the realm of probabili- ties. * kK X 1t is & solemn fact that up to within & few hours of the convention Secretary Hoover was without any positive assur- ance that he would not have to wrestle with President Coolidge for the nomina- tion. Hoover held it to be inconceivable that_Coolidge would run again after the President's consistent statements to the contrary. But there was not in the Californian’ n any direct, cast- iron-or categorical pledge to that effect. It is a further solemn fact that the delegation .from Mr. Coolidge’s native State of Vermont sought in vain, on the eve of Kansas City, for some guidin word from him as to his wishes and intentions anent the impending con- vention, and failed to get it. The Hoo- ver man ‘Work, Good, Brown, Newton, Moses, Lenroot, Mrs. Wille- brandt and the rest—were aware of the uncertainties which President Coolidge’s silence had injected into the situation. They never had the slightest intention of letting it wreck the uncommonly well geared Hoover machine. They were ready for a fight and calmly con- fident of winning it. * kK X Mrs. Henry L. Stimson, wife of the Becretary of State, is not likely to take in Washington unt; residence until Fall. She gfld the price of resi- Ip] 1es. . Col. Stimson trim. Life in the Gt liminary ragua hardened him for Manila. The Secretary of State is an ardent horse- man and plans to keep in shape on the bridle path. * K kK Hoover isn’t very strong for effects; but he has added g | that when money gets up to 30 per cent, tion of their motives, are already part and parcel of the work, The same may be said of thousands upon thousands of auman beings in every country in the world. And when this much is said, the sayer feels that he is approaching the second stumbling block. What workers in humane edu- cation must avold, before everything else, lwvln: the impression that their I take the fire and , the Pep” and “punch” Gut of the human e, Every battleship has its ship's cat, which gets a square: deal from m' hardy mariners. Although they are “kind to animals,” no one could accuse them of being either sentimental or lacking in vigor. ' It will be found that there are thou- sands of vigorous, thoroughly masculine sportsmen who are kind to animals. It their way of being kind involves actions of which the thorough dyed-in- the-wool “kind to animalist” does not entirely approve, the latter must be willing to admit to himself that the millennium has not come, by any means; that perhaps perfection of treatment of dumb brutes will never be secured. In a world as complex as this one, 8o solitary an aim as involved in kind- ness to animals must universally mnt‘ many oppositions and be subject to many abuses, both physical and mental. This is only another way of saying that you cannot get all men to think ‘alike. He who longs eagerly foy perfect kindness to all created things may well read and ponder books | in which details are given of those races which render reverence to animal life and at the same time live amid indescribable filth. * kK % ‘The old saying, “Charity begins at home,” has no better application than in relation to kindness to animals. It is not possible to be the keeper of a brother’s pets any more than it is to direct the brother's every activity. Kindness begins at home and has its best applications there. The example set, even if it does not seem to be large, nevertheless may go farther than any one can dream of. Kindness is catch- ing, and little children exposed to it slowly but surely grow into it if care is taken at the same time to make them see that such kindliness is senti- ment, not sentimentality. Cruelty, after all, is a major human problem. Sometimes it seems question- able whether even ignorance, supposed to be the mother of all evil, has any | Pri more debasing effect upon humanity than cruelty, and its many forms, such as ariger, ire, irritation, spleen, torture. Again one finds so many factors in- volved that it is difficult to risk gener- alities. For instance, one may be cruel to other human beings and at the same time manifest a real tenderness for animals.. Many a man will tolerate more from his dog than he will from his wife. As a general proposition, however, it may be said that kindness to animals if carried far enough will result in kindness to that greatest of all animals, man. Therefore, it is perhaps no great stretch of the imagination when one declares that universal peace, so loudly preached throughout the world, depends more upon what the world does to its brute creatures than upon any amount of treaties and good will pronounce- ments. Let any one who wishes to call this fanciful do so. Who knows but that the three fishermen of Eynemouth may point the way? Many great deeds and great words have been done and spokeélr by fishermen. for precedence purposes, as his better half. Incidentally, Washington gos- sipers, still busy with the richest morsel they've had in moons, ar€ suggesting that the Vice President might put an| end to the controversy he's stirred up by remarrying. The local political and social set is not wholly devoid of eligi- bles. * K K X A distinguished member of Congress was recently quiz master at a Washing- ton Jaw school. He asked every’ man in the class to stand up and unblushingly tell him what his average marking-had | been to date. One or two confessed to 90, a few more to 80, quite a number to between 70 and 80, a goodly bunch to 60 and lower. “Anybody here with an average as low as 30?” the states- n asked. Rather shame-facedly one lanky youth stood up and acknowledged that he answered that description. | “Well,” quoth Senator ——, one of the Nation's recognized authorities on con- stitutional law, “30 was just about my average in law school, too.” * ok x % One of the remarkable men in the Federal service at Washington is Clarence M. Charest (pronounced Sharay), general counsel of the Bureau of Internal Revenue in the Treasury Department. Mr. Charest for years has been a one-armed man, but that didn't prevent him from being tennis cham- pion of the District of Columbia for several seasons. This past Winter he established another record by rolling up the top score in the interdivision bowl- ing contest among Treasury Depart- merit teams, * ok ok ok Although Wall Street has been having heavy going lately, thanks mainly to the autocrats of the Federal Reserve Board, “the Street” can still wisecrack. One of its latest witticisms has just reached Washington. It's to the effect it will be split up “on a three-for-one basis.” Another quip has it that a merger should be effected between the Federal Reserve Board and the Inter- state_Commerce Commission, and that the Federal Oil Conservation Board should be allowed to participate in the merger on a share-for-share basis, * k& Members of Congress are steadily drifting back to Washington for the special session. ‘Their favorite pre- pastime is bef on the dura- tion of the war. Money bein’ offered that it may be August 1 before ad- Jjournment. re ready to FOR LOS&LARM AID Suggestion Eliminates Many Pro- posals Under Consideration. To the Editor of The Star: ‘The question of farm relief is one that has been engrossing the interest of the country for ages. mmumm':! grange movement was started. It was thought that would bring about the desired relief. . It has not done it. It was thought that if the farmers were better educated that would be their relief. Many agricultural institutions were introduced. That has not brought any relief. It was thought that when the Government established the De- partment of Agriculture that would bfln{ the desired rellef. That has way fafled. Rellef was sought h co-operative marketing. That has failed. = President Coolidge an- nounced that the farmers must work it out for themselves. That has failed. The McNary Haugen proposition was vefiedu twice, now proposed by the present administration, as outlined by Secretary Hyde of the Agriculture Department before the House committee on agricul- ture a few days ago, that relief shall be sought first by adjusting the tariff on all agricultural products grown in this country to the point of giving the American market to the American farmer; second, by developing the in- land waterways, so that farm products from the Middle and Northwestern sec- tions may find a cheaper and speedier outlet for exgons third, by better edu- cation for the farmer, and fourth, by appropriating the sum of $300,000,000 toward co-operative marketing, very much on the order of the equalization fee plan of the McNary-Haugen bill, though under another name. Plans Believed Futile. I am a great admirer of our present President; have been a Republican all of my life and mnucluenuy far be it anything unnecessarily from me to say to disparage any efforts that in the administration’s judgment may be thought wise to bring about the desired farm relief. But I feel compelled to state that while I heartily in the development of the inland waterways, I can see no farm relief in that either for present or future needs—nor deed anything in the way of tariff ad- justment, higher education, or in co- operative marketing as outlined. None of these things can bring anything but. temporary relief for the reason that anything that will tend to bring about better prices for the farmer will at the same time tend to increase or stimulate overproduction and the farmer is soon then just back where he started. All ces on everything, farmer products included, are in the main higher now than they have ever been. Under these circumstances it seems perfectly plain to my mind as to what the farmer needs and should have: (1) He should be put in position to rl the price that the consumer pays for his products, instead of the farmer selling spinach for 10 cénts a bushel and the consumer going to his grocer and vaying 10 cents a pound for it, or $3 per bushel—instead of him selling wheat for about 1 cent a pound and paving his grocer 11 cents for a 1-pound loaf of bread. Viewed from Both Sides. For my part, and I am both a farmer and a consumer, I do not want to see the consumer made to pay anything more than he now does for any farm prod- ucts, The consumer always is the man that gets the brunt of a rise in tariff. It apparently rarely helps the producer very much. The fight of the farmer. therefore, is to get what the constimer pays for his products instead of seeing it all paid out to parties whose sole business it is simply to hand it to the consumer. Under these circumstances I have devised what has gotten to be called by some as “the Booth Plan” for want of -a better name. This plan is now under consideration by Congress, as re] under the head of agricul- tural relief hearings before the com- mittee on agriculture, House of Repre- sentatives, Seventieth session, from ses- sions January 30 to February 1, 1928, serial E, part 3, by nearly all af the governors of the States, by the United States Chamber of Commerce, by the American Federation of Labor, by many of the newspapers and private indi- viduals, and I have yet to find any- body that does not indorse it, at least in some measure. I have taken the stand that farming is & local ‘issue; that it is world-wide in its scope and that Congress cannot, under any other basis, do anything to help the farmer. If it could it would have done so long ago. My plan is that every city should take care of its own farmers; that every city have an agricultural board consisting of three members; that all the farmers around it, for a zone of, say, 25 miiles, be permitted to. register before this board stating just what they propose to plant, thus affording this board the regulation of the amount of supply for the city. Forall that this board shall approve for any given farmer it shall guarantee him a mini- mum price. The farmer shall retain the privilege, however, of selling such mgeh anybody he pleases either at a higher or lower price than the mini- mum 30 fixed. To Sell and Deliver. ‘The board shall séll and deliver all the products so bought from its farm- ers to the consumers or to anybody that desires to purchase them within its zone at precisely what it pays the farmer for them' plus 10 per cent to defray cost' of delivery. It shall also provide carriers cold storage facilities and grain elevators for taking care of its surplusage and sell all to customers at cost plus extra cost of manufacture and handling. The detalls of this plan are fully outlined in a bill drawn for this purpose and made a part of the proposed plan submitted to Congress. A glance at this plan will show that it will be a wonderful relief to the farmers to have a (1) minimum price fixed for them as a guide to their busi- ness; (2) to have the help of the agri- cultural board in determining what to plant; (3) a wonderful privilege for the consumers to buy at the prices paid the farmer instead of paying possibly double or treble for it elsewhere, as he now does in the majority of his purchases, and thus having his supplies brought to his door by this board, doing away with the ' long-talked-of middleman both for the producer and consumer. is Pessimists a gamble that it will be September before cost the siege is ended. A prole 1l B weather - would "pe ihe” surest means to an early end. (Copyrisht, 1920.) Johnson Was Senator After Being President To the Editor of The Star: In gn editorial headed “Coolidge for the Senate?” appearing in The Evening Star, under date of April 4, the follow- ing statement appears: President and President. in the course of his long Temarkable career. - From Wood Pulp From the New York Sun. SN Summarizing a report. on pu wood fibers presented to the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper In- dustry in New York City, the United|panks kej sl?‘:wld e “uu fibe: roac] o appear that TS App! ing closely to cotton fiber in paper-mak- Haying originally mmdeh e vaie foan ." As & result of an investiga- f|if its president subordinaté. * ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS . BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. ‘This newspaper puts at your dis- posal & corps of trained researchers in Washington who will answer ques- tions: for you. They have access to the Government Jepartments, the libraries, museums, galleries and pub- lic buildings, and to the numerous as- sociations which maintain headquar- ters in the Nation's Capital. If they can be of assistance to you, write your question plainly, and send with 2 cents in coin or stamps to The Evening Star Information Bureau, Frederic J. Has- kin, director, Washington, D. C. Q. What is the first bright star out every night in the west?—O. H. A. It is the planet Venus. It is at outshining its greatest bflll(lngl;‘ T celestial objects exc moon, Q. Is the quartz for radio crystals found in this country?—T. I. A. It has never been found in suf- ficlent quantity to be a commercial commodity. The rock crystal used for this purpose is imported from Brazil and Madagascar. Q. How is the sale of liquor regu- lated in Sweden?—T. F. R. A. The present system of restricted liquor traffic devised by Dr. Ivan Bratt was put into effect in 1914. the Bratt system is this; All wine and spirits in Sweden containing over 3.6 per cent alcohol are sold through the Wine and Spirits Central, the only or- ganization in Sweden having the right to manufacture and sell liquor whole- sale. This organization sells to 120 local companies and these in turn sup- ply individuals, as well as hotels and restaurants. Individual buying is con- trolied by the “motbok,” a booklet with detachable slips on which its owner must sign his name every time he buys strong liquor. Under this law Sweden derives a revenue of 110,000,000 crowns from the liquor traffic. Bootlegging is said to be unknown, and there is no enforcement proble; Q. How large is the site of the Ibero-American Exposition?—L. E. N. A. For the location of the Ibero- American Exposition, Seville has pro- vided a park and garden tract of 2400 acres on the banks of the Guadalquivir River. This land has been under culti- vation for years. and is one of "the beauty spots of the world. Q. What is for painting used in bookbinding?—A. G. N. A. This is & corruption of the words “fore edge.” used to describe the deli- cate painting or decorations applied to the extreme front edges of the book. ‘When the book was closed only blotches or masses of colors showed, but when the leaves of the book were partially spread delicate tracery, artistic designs and sometimes elaborate pictures were revealed. Samuel Mearne, bookbinder to King Charles II of England, is cred- lbedh'lnl originating this form of deco- ration. Q. What was the first educational endowment in America?—W. A. S. A. The bequeathing of 250 acres of land, an adjacent salt marsh and eight milk cows comprised the first educa- tional endowment in America. It was left by Benjamin Symmes to found a free school in Elizabeth County, Va. Mr. Symmes died in 1634. Briefly, | g‘ xwlnt is meant by Deud Sea fruit? A. The ex?reuhn is synonymous with “Ap&leu of Sodom.” The apple trees around Dead Ses. bore fruit love'y (to the eye but inedible. One e: tion is that these apples were a kind of gall. ‘They were rich, glossy, - in appearance, but filled wi an intensely bitter, porous, easily pulver- ized substance. term is applied to anything *wonderful in contemplation but disappointing in realization, N Q. Where did. the phrase “feet of clay” originate?—C. G. - 5‘2 It is found in the Bible—Daniel, Q. Are pretzels more popular in the Eastern part of the United States than in the Western?—S. H. A. The Pennsylvania Dutch it this article of food to America, and it still enjoys its greatest popularity in Pennsylvania and nearby States. Q. How long has Buenos Aires had | automobile shows?>—F. R. | _A. The automobile show held last | December was the eleventh. Nearly all of the makers of fine cars in the United States and England exhibited their models. Q. Is the rice paper of Japan made from rice and, if so, what is the process?—N. T. A. There is no rice in rice paper. It is the pith or core of a small tree native to Japan. The soft, white core Is sliced with a very sharp knife on a metal plate and subjected to heavy pressure. Afterward it is cut into smooth squares. Q. What is meant by light reading | and heavy reading?—W. J. A. What constitutes light reading to one person might prove heavy reading to another. Ordinarily light reading is | gay and entertaining and offers no tax | to the intellect; in contrast, heavy read- ing requires what might be called “mental gymnastics” and is more or less educational. Q. Are the leis of the Hawaiian Islands made of real or artificial flow- | ers?>—B. D. A. Originally they were all real flow- ers. They are woven by expert lei- | makers of slumaria, ginger, carnations, roses and countless other blossoms. The ilima garlands are the ones which are i imitated with paper flowers. Q. Where is Robert Todd Lincoln | buried>—T. C. ! | A. He is buried in Arlington Cem- | etery, across the Potomac River from | Washington, D. C. Q. Is the common horseshoe magnet made of cast iron or steel?—M. W. A. Permanent magnets may be made of cast iron, of steel carrying anywhere | from .3 to 1.5 per cent of carbon, or from alloy steel containing carbon as well as certain other metals. Q. What is used to put a coating of wax on plaster casts?—B. B. | A. An artist informs us that he uses white wax dissolved in turpentine to | wax plaster casts. | Q. Is Nellie Bly still living?—W. M¢A. | ~A. Elizabeth Cochrane, the famous | Nellie Bly, died in 1922. Public interest in sound finance is | aroused by the attack which has been | made on President Charles, E. Mitchell of the National City Bank of New | York because of the $25.000,000 that he offered in Wall Street with the purpose of averting & stock market crash. Senator Carter Glass of Virginia charges that the banker defied the orders of the Federal Reserve Board in the matter of loans for speculation, and demands that he resign from the New York board. Supporters of Mr. Mitchell contend that I his action was to meet an emergency, and for that reason was justified. The suggestion from the Virginian, who was formerly Secretary of the Treasury, and also from Senator King of Utah that the power of the Reserve Board be in- creased is made a part of the eurrent debate. “Mr: Mitchell acted not in the spirit of contravention of Federal Reserve ad- monitions, so far as one can see,” in the opinion of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, “but in the intention of meeting a fresh emergency, arisen after those ad- monitions had been given. Emergency action is not necessarily indiscipline. * * * The Federal Reserve system it- self may conceivably feel grateful to Mr. Mitchell for his prompt action, rather than resentful. As to whether the bankers supporting speculation of Mr. Glass, calling for hands off, is right | in the long-range aspect of the situa- tion the future alone can show. In the press of the moment bank support was the only ready expedient.” * ok k% “There is serious question,” states the Kansas City Journal-Post, “whether intrusting such power to the Federal Reserve Board as Senators Glass and King seem to favor would not bring out evils in other directions far outweigh- ing any possible benefits. It would es- tablish a real ‘money trust.’ Even if it sought to do everything solely for the general welfare, yet the conferring of such power would be a substantial lim- itation on the right of exercise of judg- ment to free business.” In support of the bankers' position, the San Prancisco CI icle argues: “No sooner had the Federal Reserve Board issued its famous order to mem- ber banks to hold down on loans for stock market purposes than money all over the country pricked up its ears. The order and its stupid proclamation gave a wonderful advertisement to the high ‘interest rates to be had on call loans for stock market speculation in New York. Large depositors all over the country took their money right out of the banks-and sent it to New York to be loaned on call at those high rates. In this manner the Federal Re- wrvel mrd ‘helped to boom stock ulation.” Federal Reserve Bank, is in in ent with the reserve au- thorities on tmutn point. pr m an emergency to prevent a not prove that he is. * * * Sena- tor Glass has already introduced in Congress a measure of & remedial na- ture, and it is understood that he will press his attempt.to curb stock u- lation in Congress. Wise legislation may help a situation which cestainly needs help from some quarter. That it would have been helped had the ds says that| g 25,000,000 for emergency t criticlsm Wn T, Argues publican, “if it had not given public) an official statement that read HE s | 7 e §E 2 8z i i [ Glass’ Battle With Bankers Inspires Warm Public Debate |this for men in powerful position— | whether in banking, industry, transpor- {umm or whatnot—who are carried |away by an overweening appraisal of | their own importance, and who act at | times as if they thought they out- | weighed the Nation, its institutions and lits laws.” The Baltimore Sun also feels that “a banker of Mr. Mitchell's lprominenct.' a director of a Federal Reserve bank, should have found meth- ods of doing & thing he believed neces- sary to do, and which the Federal Re- serve Board could not have prevented | his doing, without a sort of bumptious- {ness which cannot but detract from ithe prestige and autharity of the i 3 board. | “Senator Glass’ demand that Mr. | Mitchell resign or be removed from the | board,” suggests the Charleston Evening | Post, “has the support of a number of | Senators, and it is certain to be a rally- ing point for a movement against stock | gambling.” The Salt Lake Tribune advises that | “so_far the Federal Reserve law has | worked to a charm, and it should be | strengthened instead of broken down. | The Raleigh News and Observer main- | tains that Senator Glass, as one of the main sponsors of the banking system, | “is entirely within his rights in calling | the attention of the country to the | grave abuses of the system to serve the | speculators in New York.” | * ok ok % “If Senator Glass and his fellow law- makers can devise safe legislation | against the improper diversion of credit | into speculative channels,” says the Chicago Daily News, “they most assur- | edly-should do so. However, to define speculation in & way to distinguish it infallibly from investment is anything but easy. Crude and arbitrary legisla- tion on the subject would be likely to do far more harm than good.” The Asheville Times voices the comment: “What happens in the market during April will largely determine the attitude of Congress in the matter. Excessive speculation may become ‘top-heavy and bring about its own correction, or it may not, at least in the near future.” “Should they have let the situation 8row to panic proportions, although well able to extend the helping hand, which Mr. Mitchell did in fact ex- tend?” asks the New York Evening Post, with the assurance that “Mr. Mitchell took the right and wise ac- tion,” and that “no institution has been more carefully and convincingly back- ing up the Federal Reserve Board's liquidation policy for many months than has Mr. Mftchell's institution, the National City Bank.” weThe New York Times states that ‘Bteg;.t:o: Glass seems to hl‘;’:e confused ary emergency with a perma- nent policy”;“that “the banks did not :pa:a l:am:;:l twul,lh funds to promote lon, vent what threat- enedk m: be a aerkm:“ 7 market."” Louisville Times con- cludes that “the incident which pro- vokes Senator Glass’ wrath reveals the fact that, like the block system! the Federal Reserve system may fail to mmen:"?n because of the human ele- T Depends on Program. From the Portland, Oregon, Sunday Journal. That the radio will keep the horses kol bl Doubtless ~ something dependsm::m ,&h‘e program. Easy to Raise in Garden. Prom the Louisville Times. One thing that is always easy to raise *|1n a back-yard garden is a perspiration, Explanation of Wets.